On Sunday, July 2, at around 11:00 am, a devastating plane crash took place in the vicinity of the Barefoot Resort and Golf Club, near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The accident claimed the lives of all five individuals on board, Dr. Joseph Farnese, 66, the pilot and an FAA-certified medical examiner, Tanique Cheu, 32, her son Sean Gardner, 7, and Odaycia Edwards, 17, died at the scene. Suzette Coleman-Edwards, 42, Odaycia’s mother, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
The unfortunate event involved a single-engine Piper PA-32 aircraft, carrying four people, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plane crashed into a wooded zone north of the golf course, causing a distressing scene that soon flooded the internet with photos and videos of smoke emanating from the crash site.
According to the Horry County coroner, the plane crashed one minute after take-off from Grand Strand Airport. North Myrtle Beach Fire Department and police were quick to answer the distress call, which was placed at approximately 11:18 am. Upon arrival, they were confronted with the sight of the plane fully consumed by fire. Despite their efforts to douse the flames, they were unable to prevent the loss of lives.
As the news broke, Officer Pat Wilkinson asked the public to join in prayer for the victims while advising people to stay away from the area. An eyewitness, who saw the tragic event unfold while at a traffic light with his wife, reported the plane spiraling downwards before it was overcome by smoke.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash. The reason behind the crash is yet to be ascertained, and it remains unclear whether any distress signal was issued by the pilot before the tragic incident.
